Pakistan visit: PM Modi expresses gratitude to Nawaz Sharif, tweets 'touched by the warmth'

New Delhi: Shortly after Narendra Modi on Friday night returned home after completing a three-nation tour that included a surprise visit to Pakistan, the Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to his Pak counterpart Nawaz Sharif for the warm welcome at Lahore.

"Am personally touched by Nawaz Sharif Sahab 's gesture of welcoming me at Lahore airport and coming to the airport when I left," Prime Minster Modi said in a tweet.

Am personally touched by Nawaz Sharif Sahab 's gesture of welcoming me at Lahore airport and coming to the airport when I left. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 25, 2015

Spent a warm evening with Sharif family at their family home. Nawaz Sahab's birthday & granddaughter's marriage made it a double celebration — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 25, 2015

"Nawaz Sharif Sahab's affection towards Atal ji is very touching. He recalled their interactions & asked me to convey his regards to Atal ji," he added.

Nawaz Sharif Sahab's affection towards Atal ji is very touching. He recalled their interactions & asked me to convey his regards to Atal ji. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 25, 2015

Prime Minister Modi made a surprise visit to Pakistan on Friday to meet his counterpart Sharif, both reaffirming to resume high-level peace talks.

It was the first time an Indian Prime Minister visited Pakistan in more than 10 years.

Prime Minister Modi had earlier made the surprise announcement to visit Sharif on Twitter as he wound up his visit to Afghanistan with an address to the Afghan parliament.

"Looking forward to meeting PM Nawaz Sharif in Lahore today, where I will drop by on my way back to Delhi," Prime Minister Modi said in a tweet.

Indian Air Force jumbo jet land in the late afternoon at Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport where Prime Minister Sharif flanked by his cabinet ministers, received Prime Minister Modi.